Salem Gunpowder Raid facts for kids
The Salem Gunpowder Raid, also known as Leslie's Retreat, was a tense situation between the British military and American colonists in Salem, Massachusetts. It ended peacefully with an agreement between both sides.
Contents
What Happened Before
On Sunday, February 26, 1775, a group of British soldiers, the 64th British Regiment, arrived in Marblehead. They had traveled from a fort in Boston Harbor. Many people in Marblehead were at church that afternoon.
The soldiers, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Leslie, were ready for action with their guns. Their mission was to march to Salem and take hidden military supplies.
The Standoff in Salem
As soon as people realized where the soldiers were going, a man named Major John Pedrick quickly rode to Salem to warn everyone. When the British troops reached Salem, they were slowed down because a bridge over the South River had been taken apart.
A Loyalist (someone loyal to the British King) then guided the troops towards an area called "North Fields." To get there, they needed to cross a drawbridge over the North River. But when they arrived, the drawbridge was raised, blocking their way! Some flatboats in the river were quickly sunk by their owners so the soldiers couldn't use them.
Across the river, many colonists were gathering, and they were armed with whatever they could find.
Key People Involved
- Colonel Timothy Pickering: A young militia officer who would later become an important leader.
- Parson Thomas Barnard: A local church leader who tried to help both sides talk to each other.
- Captain John Felt: He was close to Colonel Leslie and later said he planned to throw Leslie into the river if the British soldiers started shooting.
The Argument at the Bridge
Important colonists like Richard Derby (whose ships' guns were what the British were looking for) and Colonel David Mason were there. They argued that Colonel Leslie was not on a public road but on private land. They said the bridge belonged to private owners, not the King, and they would not lower it for him.
They also pointed out that war had not been declared, so Leslie was moving forward at his own risk. Richard Derby told Leslie, "Find the guns, if you can. Take them, if you can. They will not be surrendered."
Leslie insisted his orders were to cross the river. But while they were arguing, the hidden guns had already been moved to a safer place. A messenger had also ridden to a nearby town, Danvers, to spread the alarm. More and more colonists were arriving from Beverly and Danvers to help.
A Peaceful Agreement
As evening approached, Colonel Leslie finally agreed to a deal. If the drawbridge was lowered, he would march only a short distance across it, give up his search for the guns, and then take his soldiers back to Marblehead.
The colonists accepted these terms, and both sides kept their word. The British regiment returned to Marblehead, passing through streets lined with armed colonists. Then they sailed back to Boston. Their mission had been stopped, and they had not found the supplies.
Why It Was Important
A famous politician named Edmund Burke later said that this event showed how close the colonies were to war. He noted that even a small action by the military could lead to a full-blown conflict.
Historians have called this "the first military enterprise of the colonies." The delay at the bridge, caused by the argument over whether it was public or private property, allowed the colonists to move the cannons to safety.
It seems that most of the bridge was private property, but the part that could be raised (the draw) was owned by the town. This small detail became very important in stopping the British.
Remembering the Event
The town of Salem put up a monument to remember this important day. It says: "In the Revolution, the first armed resistance to the Royal Authority was made at this bridge, 26 Feb. 1775 by the people of Salem. The advance of 300 British Troops, led by Lt. Col. Leslie and sent by Gen. Gage to seize munitions of war, was here arrested."
In 2002, a park along Bridge Street in Salem was named after this event.
Images for kids
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A sketch of Leslie's Retreat, by Frederick Arthur Bridgman
